New report confirms that it was indeed because of China rare earth control, despite earlier denials by DOW officials.
F-35 Jets Delivered With No Radar?
Since June 2025, Lockheed Martin has been installing a ballast weight on U.S.-delivered F-35 Lightning II jets instead of the new Northrop Grumman AN/APG-85, which is not yet ready for serial production.
The photo shows a F-35B Lightning II operated by the U.S. Marine Corps fitted with this ballast.
The previous radar, Northrop Grumman AN/APG-81, was installed on earlier F-35s and continues to equip all export aircraft.
Jets fitted with the new AN/APG-85 are now expected to begin entering U.S. service in 2028.